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TEXT 3-4 na rupam asyeha tathopalabhyate
tatah padam tat parimargitavyam
SYNONYMS  na--not;
rupam--form; asya--of this tree; iha--in this; tatha--also;
upalabhyate--can be perceived; na--never; antah--end;
na--never; ca--also; adih--beginning; na--never;
ca--also; sampratistha--the foundation; asvattham--banyan
tree; enam--this; su-virudha--strongly; mulam--rooted;
asanga-sastrena--by the weapon of detachment; drdhena--strong;
chittva--by cutting; tatah--thereafter; padam--situation;
tat--that; parimargitavyam--has to be searched out; yasmin--where;
gatah--going; na--never; nivartanti--comes back; bhuyah--again;
tam--to Him; eva--certainly; ca--also; adyam--original;
purusam--the Personality of Godhead; prapadye--surrender;
yatah--from whom; pravrttih--beginning; prasrta--extended;
purani--very old.
TRANSLATION The real
form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. No one can understand
where it ends, where it begins, or where its foundation is. But with determination
one must cut down this tree with the weapon of detachment. So doing, one
must seek that place from which, having once gone, one never returns, and
there surrender to that Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom everything
has began and in whom everything is abiding since time immemorial.
PURPORT It is now clearly
stated that the real form of this banyan tree cannot be understood in this
material world. Since the root is upwards, the extension of the real tree
is at the other end. No one can see how far the tree extends, nor can one
see the beginning of this tree. Yet one has to find out the cause. "I am
the son of my father, my father is the son of such and such a person, etc."
By searching in this way, one comes to Brahma, who is generated by the
Garbhodakasayi Visnu. Finally, in this way, when one reaches to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, that is the end of research work. One has to search
out the origin of this tree, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, through
the association of persons who are in the knowledge of that Supreme Personality
of Godhead. Then by understanding one becomes gradually detached from this
false reflection of reality, and by knowledge one can cut off the connection
and actually become situated in the real tree.
The word
asanga is very important in this connection because the attachment
for sense enjoyment and lording it over the material nature is very strong.
Therefore one must learn detachment by discussion of spiritual science
based on authoritative scriptures, and one must hear from persons who are
actually in knowledge. As a result of such discussion in the association
of devotees, one comes to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then the
first thing one must do is surrender to Him. The description of that place
whence going no one returns to this false reflected tree is given here.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is the original root from whom
everything has emanated. To gain favor of that Personality of Godhead,
one has only to surrender, and this is a result of performing devotional
service by hearing, chanting, etc. He is the cause of this extension of
this material world. This has already been explained by the Lord Himself:
aham sarvasya prabhavah. "I am the origin of everything." Therefore
to get out of the entanglement of this strong banyan tree of material life,
one must surrender to Krsna. As soon as one surrenders unto Krsna, he becomes
detached automatically from this material extension.
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